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FEWER SIDEWALKS. BUT AT LEAST THEY???LL BE CLEAN
Athens-Clarke County Streets and Drainage workers armed
with power washers sent a torrent of grit, cigarette butts, stale
beer and Lord knows what else down College Avenue last week.
Rather than run off into the gutter and then to the river,
though, all the filth was sucked up by a vacuum truck waiting
by a storm drain. ACC and the Athens Downtown Development
Authority are experimenting with new equipment that could
finally be a solution to downtown's notoriously noxious
sidewalks.
"It's definitely an improvement," ADDA Executive Director
Pamela Thompson said. "The water coming off it is super icky.
It may take more than one swipe to get it super clean."
The upcoming Clayton Street infrastructure project???ten
tatively approved Tuesday, Nov.
5???should also go a long way
toward a cleaner downtown by
improving drainage and replac
ing the sometimes-stinky ginkgo
trees.
There may be fewer sidewalks
to keep clean in the future,
though. Curiously, our suppos
edly progressive commission
voted 9-1, with Jared Bailey
dissenting, to lift a requirement
that developers build sidewalks
in front of new factories in
industrial zones, a decision that
was based on a recommenda
tion from the businesspeople on
Mayor Nancy Denson's economic
development task force. They
did not see the logic in forcing
Caterpillar to build a sidewalk
along the long access road
through its site, according to
Commissioner Andy Herod.
Alternative transportation
advocates told the commission
that the decision could make it harder for employees to walk to
work or from their homes through industrial areas. "We want to
make Athens a more bike- and walk-friendly place," BikeAthens
Chairman Elliott Caldwell said. "Lifting this requirement and
allowing businesses not to put in sidewalks takes us further
away from that goal."
For years, developers have been trying to avoid building
sidewalks, Bailey said. "I think we'd be losing ground in our
attempt to be a more walkable city," he said.
Sidewalks will still be required in industrial zones that are
within 500 yards of residential neighborhoods, including most
of the Newton Bridge Road area and part of Olympic Drive,
Commissioner Kelly Girtz said.
"I think this is a reasonable balance," Herod said.
MAGNET FOR THE POOR: Denson bragged on Caterpillar, wept
over losing Selig and said she will run for re-election on bring
ing business to Athens at a Federation of Neighborhoods meet
ing Monday, Nov. 4.
Several people asked about Athens' high poverty rate.
Denson said "Athens is a magnet" for poor people who come
here "because they know they can get help."
"We bring people out of poverty all the time" she said, but
more come to fill their places. And the new Caterpillar plant
will be "life-changing for families" who can "buy homes to
have a life they never dreamed of having."
"It's very sad for all of us" to lose Selig, she said, but "I
have high hopes that we're going to get something as good or
better" and we have "already gone through most of the pain"
of vetting the requirements, so that should make it easier next
time. [John Huie]
Unclean! Unclean! Athens-Clarke County workers hose down the College Square sidewalk.
COMMISSIONERS QUIT: Athens-Clarke County Commissioner
George Maxwell knows when to walk away and knows when to
run.
Maxwell quoted (believe it or not) Kenny Rogers before
announcing at the end of the Tuesday, Nov. 5 commission
meeting that he won't seek a fourth term. "I have been asked
by many people," he said. "I thought about it. I prayed about
it. My prayers were answered???'no.'"
Maxwell, 75, has been a preacher, mailman and the third
black police officer in Athens. He ousted Alvin Sheats in 2002,
primarily because Sheats never met a rezoning he didn't like,
and became an eloquent and respected spokesman for the
Hancock Corridor and the poor across Athens, on the rare occa
sions that he chimed in.
Maxwell's politics shifted somewhat after the Republicans'
2012 redistricting handed him the largely white, progressive
neighborhoods along Prince Avenue. By and large, his new
constituents are happy with his representation, but he still
cited redistricting as a factor in his decision, along with his
age. "It's not the same as when the district was like it was,"
he said.
As Maxwell himself would put it, many of his constituents
are (baritone voice) "deeply disturbed." No one had stepped up
to run at press time, but undoubtably there will be great inter
est in the seat.
After 18 years in office???three terms on the Athens City
Council and three on the Athens-Clarke County Commission???
Kathy Hoard also has decided not to seek re-election next year.
"It has been a tremendous honor to serve our community
in this manner, but I am looking forward to other engaged
individuals stepping forward expressing interest in the post I
currently hold," Hoard said via email.
Lo and behold, just a few days later, a message from a rep
resentative of Diane Bell popped up in the ol' inbox announc
ing her candidacy for Hoard's District 7 seat. Bell is a very well
qualified candidate: She has served on SPL0ST committees
for 15 years, owns A Flair With Hair and is president of the
Five Points Business Association. But don't expect her to be a
shoo-in. Others will be eyeing this seat as well.
In a statement to Flagpoie, posted in full on flagpole.com,
Hoard reflected on her time in public service. She has worked
to preserve our city's water supply and historic resources,
chairing a water conservation committee during the recent
horrific droughts and leading efforts to protect South Milledge
Avenue with an overlay district and reform the historic dis
trict designation process by giving more information earlier to
neighborhood residents. Just last week, she and Commissioner
Mike Hamby pushed through a moratorium on demolitions on
West Cloverhurst. Still left undone, though, is strengthening
the demolition delay ordinance, which, as Hoard noted, has yet
to save one historic building.
But most of all, I'll miss Hoard's quick wit. Anytime anyone
goes on too long in a meeting or just isn't making any sense???
which is a lot???Hoard has been there to cut them down with a
dose of sarcastic Southern sweetness. Bless her heart.
Blake Aued news@flagpole.com
TOBACCO &. V) GIFTS
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WE JUST RECEIVED OUR
LARGEST SHIPMENT
OF INVENTORY EVER!
TONS OF NEW
HOOKAHS
GRINDERS
GLASS
PAtX VAPORIZERS^
J OIL RIG AND
???'CONCENTRATE GLASS
AND SO MUCH MORE! )6<
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Adult: Section!
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Daily is your community grocery store,
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523 Prince Ave
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4 FLAGPOLE.COM ??? NOVEMBER 13, 2013